FALCoifnxs;. 29 



161. SPOTTED EAGLE. Aquila ncevia (J. F. Gmelin). Eare straggler. C. & E. Europe, 



General colour dark reddish brown. Tail nearly uniform brown N.Africa, 

 above ; legs feathered in front to the toes. 



Young. Wing-coverts and scapulars with large oval tips of white or 

 'brownish white. Length 26 inches. 



162. GOLDEX EAGLE. Aquila chrysaetus (Linnaeus). Resident in 

 ^ the Highlands and in Ireland, but nearly destroyed in the latter country 

 ** by poison ; seldom visits England. 



Legs feathered in front to the toes, the last joints of which only are 

 covered by three large scales (Aquila). General colour dark brown ; nape 

 aud hind neck light brown ; thighs uniform dark brown ; tail with one 

 greyish bar on under surface. 



Young. Basal half of tail white ; base of body-feathers white. 

 Length 32-36 inches. 



t-f 163. WHITE-TAILED or SEA-EAGLE. Haliaetus albicilla (LinuaBus). 

 > I /Still resident in N. of Scotland and Ireland, on rocky sea-coasts, but 

 ' nearly exterminated. Immature migrants from the Continent are not 

 infrequent in England, and are often recorded as * Golden ' Eagles. 



Lower half of leg bare of feathers ; that and the toes covered in front fit 

 with large scales. 



Adult. Bill and iris light yellow ; head and neck much lighter than 

 back ; tail white. 



Young. Bill blackish ; iris brown ; tail whitish, much mottled with 

 greyish brown. 



Length 28-34 inches. 



&. 164. GOSHAWK. Astur palumbarius (LinnaBUs). Sylvan. Casual visitor. Europe, 



Above ashy brown ; thin white line above ear-coverts ; below white, ^^ l 

 & thickly barred with ashy brown ; tail ashy brown, with four broad bars 

 of darker brown ; iris yellow. 



Young. Above brown ; below and under wing-coverts light buff, 

 streaked with blackish brown ; tail brown, with five bands of darker J/^. 

 brown ; iris pearly white. 



Length : male 19, female 23-24 inches. 



(The American Goshawk, Astur atricapillus, has occurred twice, but 

 was probably imported ; it resembles the above, but has the underparts 

 closely and irregularly freckled or marbled with ashy brown, not barred.) 



i 



165. SPAEEOW-HAWK. Accipiter nisus (Linna3us). Sylvan. Eesident. 



! Toes rather slender ; the middle toe very much longer than the 

 others. 



Adult male. Above slate-blue ; nape mottled with white ; cheeks and 

 ear-coverts bright rufous ; below white, barred with bright rufous ; iris 

 orange. Length 1.2 inches. 



Female. When very old rarely assumes the same plumage, but very 

 few survive in this country to attain it ; the adult females usually have 

 the breast barred with greyish brown, with a reddish patch of downy 

 feathers on the flanks. Much larger than males. Length 15 inches. 



